Finland - Country Profile

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Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Finland’s total area, including territorial waters of the Baltic Sea, is some 420,000 km2. The terrestrial surface covers 73% of the total area, whereas inland waters cover 8% and marine waters cover 19%. Most of Finland belongs to the boreal coniferous forest zone. There are approximately 44,000 known species that regularly occur in Finland. Well-known groups of species include vertebrates, vascular plants, mosses, butterflies and beetles. The least well-known categories include algae and most other insect groups. Some 42% of the species assessed are forest species; 27% are associated with farmland and built-up environments; and 11% are shore species. The greatest habitat changes have occurred in farmland, forests and man-made habitats. The state of habitats in Finland’s inland waters and the threatened status of the associated species have been particularly affected by changes in water quality, hydrological engineering projects, the artificial regulation of water levels, the proliferation of non-native species and artificial additions to native fish stocks. The most serious environmental problem affecting the Baltic Sea is eutrophication. In a study conducted in 2000, it was estimated that 10% of the well-known species are threatened. By 2010, this number is expected to rise to 11%, which means a further 150 species becoming threatened.

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

The strictly protected forest area is 0.8 million hectares, which is 4.1% of the total forest area.

Percentage of Forest Cover

The total area of forest habitats on mineral soils in Finland is just under 15 million ha, which represents 49% of the country’s land area. Most of the peatlands, which cover 20% of total area, are also forested.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

The NBSAP sets out 124 measures related to the preservation, management and sustainable use of biodiversity, to be implemented by 2005. The National priorities and measures include the review of current legislation and necessary reforms, the incorporation of biodiversity into the daily routine of administration, trade, industry and all economic activities, the maintenance and use of biodiversity at the local and regional level, the presence of in-situ and ex-situ conservation, the regulation of non-native species and genetically modified organisms, the ownership of and access to genetic material and the protection of the status of indigenous people. To monitor the implementation of the plan and of the Convention on Biological Diversity, a monitoring group has been created, composed of members from various Ministries, the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, the Confederation of Finnish Industry and Employers, the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest-Owners, the Sàmi Parliament, and the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation. Since the beginning of the implementation of the NBSAP, 3 progress reports of the Action Plan have been issued. Finland has also revised its NBSAP for the 2006-2016 period.

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

Several measures have been taken to achieve the 2010 target, such as the creation of the Natura 2000 network, the establishment of the Forestry and Agriculture Genetic Resources Board, and the creation of the FIBRE research project to assess the viability, biodiversity and conservation prospects of small populations such as dragonflies, sticky catchly (Lychnis viscaria) and hunting spiders (Lycosa sp.). The Finnish Government has also resolved to prepare a national programme to promote sustainable production and consumption. In November 2003, the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Trade and Industry appointed a committee to draft proposals for this programme which should be issued in May 2005. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has provided funding since 2001 for local land use planning related to agricultural biodiversity, encouraging farmers to manage ecologically valuable areas through such planning. This form of planning helps to keep farmers, landowners and local residents informed about ecologically valuable features and areas. Finland has published a review of the current situation regarding invasive alien species, which recommends mitigation measures. Management plans and their targets will be included in the national alien invasive species report developed by year 2007. Finland´s National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change, finalized in 2004, addresses the impact of climate change on different sectors, ecosystems and environments. Finally, a new decision made in February 2005 by The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry includes an action plan to harmonize forestry activities with the Sami’s reindeer husbandry activities in Upper Lapland.

Initiatives in Protected Areas

In 1996, the Finnish government’s ministerial economic policy committee approved a nature conservation funding programme for 1996-2007, with money earmarked for the implementation of conservation programmes, land acquisition for the State, and compensation for landowners. In 2003 the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) launched a study to evaluate the status of Finnish biotopes, which will result in a Red list of Finland’s threatened biotopes, due to be published in 2007. In 2004, the government decided to complete the national Natura 2000 network, bringing the total area of proposed Natura 2000 sites to around 4.9 million hectares. Terrestrial sites cover 73% of the Natura 2000 network whereas inland and marine water sites cover 27% of the network. Almost all of the proposed Natura 2000 sites (97 %) have already been established as protected areas through national decisions, or are already included in national conservation programmes, or are otherwise protected. The Metsähallitus Natural Heritage Services published in 2005 the findings of a comprehensive international evaluation of the management effectiveness of protected areas in Finland. The first State of the Parks Report will be published in 2006.

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

The indigenous Sami Parliament is a member in the Finnish National Biodiversity Committee and its monitoring group. Financial support is provided for reporting on national measures and for cooperation with the SCBD according to the Artic report 2005. Finland co-finances the GEF´s ECORA-project, whose aim is to apply the ecosystem approach to conserve biodiversity in three model areas inhabited by indigenous peoples in Russian Arctic.

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